Breaker strip construction



Aug. 15, 1950 w. A. ELLSWORTH 2,518,673

BREAKER STRIP CONSTRUCTION I Filed May 14, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIGURE 2 gwue/wfo o WMMAEZM Aug. 15, 1950 w. A. ELLSWORTH 2,

BREAKER STRIP CONSTRUCTION Filed May 14, 1945 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WMMAEW m Q1? m a t/MM Patented Aug. 15, 1951) BREAKER sTRrP ooNsTRUcTIoN Walter A. Ellsworth,'St. Paul, Minn., assignor to Seeger Refrigerator Company, St. Paul, a corporation of Minnesota Application May i4. 1945, Serial No. 593,718

My invention relates. to an improvement in breaker strip construction particularly useful on flat top freezers and. the like. A g

In the manufacture oflflat top freezers and the like for containing frozen foods and other products it isnecessary to provide an efficient seal between the inner and outer metallic cabinet coverings. Freezer cabinets of the type described are usually cooled by means of refrigerant coils securedto the outer surface of the cabinet liner.

It is essential that a tight seal be prov ided be tween the liner and. the outer refrigerator shell toprevent moisture from collecting within the wall of the refrigerator on the coils and'outer liner surface. Furthermore, as the cabinets are usually :maintaine'd at'a low interior temperature, an effective seal'is necessary betweenthe inner and outer metallic coverings of the cabinet to prevent the leakage of heat into the refrigera-f tor.

In providing a connection between theflinner and other shells of the refrigerator several facts must be borne in mind. A definitefsuppo'rting connection between the inner and outer Shells is desirable so as to prevent any shifting of the liner relative to the'outside shell, and to hold the two shells in proper relationship. Thestruce ture necessary to"accomplish'the desired result" depends to some extent on the insulation'used, as the insulation may be ofusein holdingthe shells in "the proper relationship. However, a definite non-metallic connection isdesirable'in order to prevent relative movement betweenthese elements.

In view of the necessity of preventing moisture from entering the wallbetween the two refrigerator shells it is desirable to provide a sealing compound for closing the cracks between the inner and outer coverings. This sealing compound-or composition is preferably employedin a-plastic state so as to thoroughly seal the wall at the junction between the two shells. This sealing medium is a poor conductor of heat and therefore does not transmit heat from to the inner shell.

In order to provide a finished appearance to the joint between the-shells, a cap overlies the the outer seal and isprovided with flanges holding thecap in sealing position, 1 l l I These and other objects and novel features of my invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the-following specification and claims. In the drawings forming a part of my specification:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a corner of a flat top cabinet showing the construction of the seal between the inner and outer refrigerator shells.

Figure 2 is a sectional view through the breaker connection shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a. sectional view through a modified:

form of construction. 7 I, Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing a construction in which the rigid connectionbetween the shells is not continuous. I

Figure 5 is a sectional view-through a modified form of breaker construction.

. Figure 6 isv a sectional view "showing still an other form of breaker construction.

The fiat top freezer A, illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings, is preferably designed for con-- taining frozen foods and other products. 'In

preferred form it includes an inner shell I0 and an outer shell ll having a breaker construction illustratedin general by the letter B connecting the inner and outer shells. It is this breaker which is of importance in the present invention.

In the construction illustrated in Figure 1 of. the drawings the inner liner H5 is provided with an outwardly turned horizontal flange I2 at the upper extremity thereof which is integrally con nected to a downwardly extending flange l3 substantially parallel to the liner ID. The edge of the liner is then bent outwardly to form a substantially horizontal flange l4.

The outer covering or outer shell I l is similarly constructed. This outer shell [I is provided with an inwardly turned flange lfi having a downwardly extending flange l6 integral therewith which is parallel to the outer covering. The outer covering edge terminates in an inturned. flanged edge H which is substantially coplanar with the flange l4 and in spaced relation thereto.

In actual practice refrigerant coils such as l9 are usually secured to the outside surface of thelinerl B so as to remove. heat therefrom. The

coil l9 preferably contacts the surface of the liner so as to provide a heat conductive connection therewith to render more effective the withdrawal of heat from the liner and thus form the interior of the freezer.

Between the inner and outer refrigerator shells HI and H I provide insulation 20 of any desired type. As this insulation is of block form it is obviously more elfective in holding the inner liner in place. The insulation may, however, be of any desired material to fill the area between the coverings Ill and II.

Y In order to hold the inner and outer shells in proper relationship I provide a strip of non- 3 metallic material 2| such as Masonite, or other fibrous material, which rests upon the flanges l4 and I! and is secured thereto by any suitable means such as the screws or bolts 22. These screws or bolts are of any desired type and may if desired be of the thread forming variety which may operate to thread the material of the flanges I4 and I! so as to hold the breaker strip 2| in place.

While the breaker strip 2| may provide a good support and spacer between the liner l3 and the outer shell H the joint formed thereby may not be moisture-proof or moisture vapor proof. If

material enters the wall between .the inner and outer refrigerator shells this moisture will cool on the coils 19 not only aiiecting the efliciency of the refrigerator, but also creating thei likeli peratures, but which will not readily cracker break even at relatively low temperatures.

As will be best noted in-Figure-2'of the drawings the ends of the breaker stripare beveled as indicated at 24- and are cut-or mortised'at 25 so that the sealer 23 may extendpartially be- J heath the edges of the sealer; As a result the breaker strip is strongly anchored in'place and has no tendency to separate from-the breaker strip.

ner and outer refrigerator coverings Iprovide a breaker collar 25 which encloses this joint. This breaker collar is preferably iormed of hard rubber having a substantially fiat upper surfaceand being provided with downwardly extending parallel flanges 21 and 29 which overlie the upper edges of the inner and outer'shells Hl'and H respectively, The breaker collar is preferably held in place only by friction, although cement may be used if necessary. This breaker strip zemay be reinforced if desired by use of a reiniorcing strip 38 embedded within the top of the strip or inserted longitudinally in an apertnretherein. The reinforcing strip may alsobe secured to the undersurface of the collar if it is so, desired.

In Figure 3 oi the drawings I disclose a modified form of breaker construction. In this construction the freezer is provided with an inner. shell, 3| and an outer shell 32 in spaced relation thereto. Insulation 33 is provided between the inner and outer shells and coils 34 and refriger ant may be secured to the outer wall of the liner to conduct heat therefrom.

The inner shell 3| is provided at its upper.

edge, with an outwardly turned flange 35 which is. bent downwardly to provide an integral flange 36 substantially parallel to the innershell wall 31.. The edge of the liner terminates in 2.11.0 1? wardly extending flange3l which is substantial 1y horizontal.

The outer shell is likewise provided with an inturned flange 39 which supports a downwardly extending flange 40 parallel to the outershell- 32.

A substantially horizontal flange 4| is integral- In order to conceal the joint between the -in-' In order 7 edge ange 4!.

with the flange 40 and is coplaner with and opposed to the flange 31 on the liner. Overlying the flange structure of the liner I provide a sponge rubber block 42 which is provided with a horizontal flange 43 overlying the top flange 35 and the horizontal flange 44 overlying the horizontal flange 31. Thus substantially the entire area of the flanges 35, 36 and 31 are, covered by the sponge rubber block which cushions the support vof the breaker strip.

- A similar sponge rubber block 45 is secured to overlie the flange structure of the outer shell 32, this block 45 having a flange 46 overlying the flange 39'= and-asecond flange 41 overlying the Thus substantially the entire flange structure of the outer shell 32 is covered bythe sponge rubber block 45.-

A breaker strip 49 of non-metallic material is secured to the flanges 3'1 and 41 by any suitable means such as by the screws or bolts 50. These screws or bolts-extend through the flanges-44 and4'| of the-sponge rubber-blocks and 45- and anchor the breaker strip 49 'to-the'fianges. The edges of the breaker strip 49'are embeddedin the body'of the sponge rubber-blocks-42 and 45,

merely compressing the sponge rubber at these points or being inserted-into the slots in thesponge rubber blocks provided forthispurpose. Thus while the breaker strip 49 serves as a connection between the flanges Hand-4i, this connection is cushioned through the spon eqrubber blocks and the sponge rubber also provides a tight seal between the inner and outer shells for the breaker strip 49.

In order to assist in the sealing operation a layer of sealing material 5| overlies the breaker and outer refrigerator shells.

In order to. enclose the connection and to form a base against which the hinged ,top of theflat' top freezer may engage I provide. a breaker col:

' lar 52 which extends over the entire fold. This collar 52 is iorn edof hard rubber. or similar.

materialjand is provided with edge flanges 5.3 and 54 which. extend downwardly over .the innerand outer shells 3| and. 32 and isfrictionallyengaged thereupon. This collar52 may be reinforced by suitable means such, as by the reinforcing strip 54, embedded or, inserted within the breaker strip or by suitable reinforcing means secured to, the undersurface, of this strip.

In Figure 4 of the drawingsiI, disclose amodifled. form, 0t construction which is. similar .to that shown in Figures 1 and] of the drawings In Figure 4 I disclose a refrigerator having; an inner liner 55 and an, outer shell 56 enclosing insulation-51 therebetween. Refrigerantcoils such as.

wardly extendingintegral flanges62and 63 are.

provided on the flanges and 3t, respectively. An outwardly turned edge flange-64 mayextend incoplanar relation with an inturned flange65- onthe flange 63. The flanges-64 and 65 need not be continuous-and may'if" desired be onlyat spaced intervals along the length of the flanges In order -to'hoId-the mnemna outer liners in their; proper relationship, I provide spaced brea er strip e m n sfifi se u to mesa 64 a .bvany se tab eame ns h. th screws or bolts 61. The strips,, 66, are preferably of some cross sectional shape similar ;-tothat shown in F ures; and 2so as to provide underu s 6 V each e d fth e st i herm??- c s. er i the. al n diu gs-en tle partially beneath the breaker strips to anchor the ea e m um in Qfii i nr 1: J;

As shown in Figure 4 the sealing medium"!!! overlies the strips 68 and overlies the insulation between these strips. The sealing medium 10 is preferably applied in molten or dissolved state and thus provides aneffective seal between the inner and outer liners. This breaker construction requires considerably more of the sealing medium and considerably less of the breaker strip which is formed of a non-metallic material such as Masonite or the like.

A breaker collar 'II overlies the connection be" tween the liners and is provided with an inner flange 12 and an outer flange 13 to frictionally engage the refrigerator coils. If desired the collar 1| may be reinforced by an insert 14 or by a reinforcing strip extending beneath the collar and secured thereto.

In Figure 5 of the drawings I disclose another form of construction which simplifies the conp struction of the breaker strip used. In this construction I provide an inner liner I5 and an outer shell 16, having insulation 11 therebetween. A refrigerant coil 19 may be secured in any desired way to the outer surface of the liner 15.

An outwardly turned flange 80 extends coplanar and in opposed relation to an inturned flange 8| on the outer shell 16. Parallel downwardly extending flanges 82 and 83 depend from the flanges 80 and BI. An outwardly turned flange 84 extends in opposed coplanar relation with an inturned flange 85 on the flange 83. The extreme edge 88 of the flange 84 is turned upwardly and the extreme edge 81 of the flange 85 is likewise turned upwardly. This upturned edge on each of the opposed flanges 84 and 85 acts to support a breaker strip 89 in spaced relation to the bodies of the flanges 84 and 85. Thus when the breaker strip 81 is secured to these flanges by any suitable means such as by the screws or bolts 98, a space is provided between the breaker strip for the major portion of each flange 84 and 85. As a result when the sealing medium or sealing compound 9| is poured into place in a molten or dissolved state, this sealing medium will extend between the ends of the breaker strip 89 and the bodies of the flanges 84 and 85, thus providing a more effective seal for anchoring the sealing medium in place.

A breaker collar 92 similar to the breaker collars previously described may be used to conceal the joint and to increase the appearance thereof. a

In Figure 6 of the drawings another modified form of construction is illustrated. In this construction the refrigerator is provided with an inner liner or shell 93 and an outer shell 98 having insulation 95 therebetween. Refrigerator coils such as 96 may if desired be secured to the outer surface of the liner 93.

The liner 93 is provided with an outwardly turned flange 91 thereupon which lies in coplanar relation with an inturned flange 99 on the outer "shell 84. A downwardly extending flange I08 is provided integrally with the flange 91 and a rela- .tivelyshort downwardly turned flange 1.8! is pro! vided on the flange 99.;- An. outwardly turned edge flange m2 is provided on theflange' I085;

1A breakerstrip I03 iis securedto the flanges-I82 by'anysuitable meansisuch as'iby the ;screws or bolts ma. The strip I03 is similarly securedtto the'flange .li'by anyksuitable" means such as by screws or bolts I05. The bolts or screws I draw the breaker strip -lll3 against the flange IOI to provide; a seal therebetween. The screws or bolts I84 tend to clamp thebreaker strip I03 against the flange I82 to serve as a seal therebetween.

In completing the sealing operation a sealing medium in a molten or dissolved state and indicated by the numeral I06 is placed over the breaker strip I 83 between the flanges I00 and I8 I. This sealing medium acts to seal any cracks or crevices between these two flanges forming a tight seal between the opposite sides of the refrigerator.

In order to conceal the joint between the inner and outer shells I provide a breaker collar I01 which may be of a type previously described. This breaker collar serves as a non-conductive connection between the inner and outer liners and conceals the sealing medium.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of construction and operation of my breaker strip construction, and While I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiments thereof, I desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A breaker construction for a refrigerator having inner and outer metallic coverings, said coverings having flanged edges extending in spaced relationship, a non-metallic rigid connecting member connecting said flanges and contacting the same to form a rigid connection between the fianges, marginal edge portions on said connecting member in spaced relation to said flanges, and a sealing compound overlying said connecting member and sealing the joint between said inner and outer coverings, said sealing compound extending into the space between said marginal edges of said connectin member and said flanges to anchor the sealing compound in place.

2. The structure described in claim 1 in which the flanges of said inner and outer metallic coverings are in co-planar relation.

3. The structure described in claim 1 in which the inner and outer coverings extend to form shoulders projecting above said flanges to position said flanges below the level of said shoulders and forming a recess between said shoulders into which said sealing compound is placed.

4. A breaker for a well type refrigerator having inner and outer metallic coverings, said coverings having opposed inturned ledges, flanges extending downwardly from said ledges and opposed marginal flanges i co-planar spaced relation substantially parallel tosaid ledges and below the level thereof, a non-metallic rigid connecting member between said marginal flanges in contacting relation thereto, and means securin said connecting member to said marginal flanges to form a rigid connection between said inner and outer coverings, marginal edge portions on said rigid connector spaced from the surface of said marginal edge flanges and sealing compound overlying said rigid connector for enclosing and embedding the marginal edges of said. cbnnector and forming. a seal betwe'ri said UNITEHSTA S inner and outer 'cnverings, Number Na 6 Date 5. The sbructure described in claim 4 and 111- 1 Fwy f July $1934 eluding a non-metallic collar overlying said seal 036,753 fi Ark E 3 and said ledges to conceal the joint between the 5 2 500 shwel'ler Apt 2 1940 inner and 011118? cverings- 212011596 Teeter May 21', 1940 WALTERA ELLSWQBTH- 2,259,135 swe man", 0e15, 14, 1941 2,299,053 Ferris 0a. 13, 1942 REFERENCES CITED 2,309,001 Nave et a1. Jan. 9, 194:; The following references are of recbrdin the 10 2,329,754 Goulooze Sept. 21, 1943 file of this patent: 2,348,812 Heath ay is, 1944 

